Educational and amusement device



May 1, 1956 T. E. ANDERSON 2,743,536

EDUCATIONAL AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 4. 1952 2 w 2 2 i M Theodore 5. Anderson IN V EN TOR.

MM} mm EDUCATIONAL AND AMUSEMENT DEVTCE Theodore E. Anderson, Litchiield, Minn.

Application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 324,856 4 Claims. or. 35-49 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in educational and amusement devices and more particularly to the chance selection of concealed ob jects bearing religious or other inscriptions and which by reason of the game aspect of the device creates in terest in the dissemination of knowledge through the medium of the inscriptions.

More specifically, the invention comprises an imitation well and bucket to be lowered therein and which carries a stationary magnet to pick up objects bearing the inscriptions and lift the same from the well.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for returning the inscription carrying objects to the well in a concealed position and for moving the objects successively into the path of the magnetized bucket.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bucket and inscription carrying object attracted thereby; and,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the inscription carrying objects.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates an imitation or toy well which includes a base 6 from which the upper wall 7 of the well rises with a central opening therein and posts 2' rise from the coping to support a roof 9. A hand operated drum or Windlass 10 is rotatably supported at the upper portion of the posts for winding a rope 11 thereon and towhich an imitation bucket 12 is attached for lowering into the well and for raising the bucket therefrom in a customary manner. An inverted U-shaped, horseshoe or other type of stationary magnet 13 is suitably attached to the bottom of the bucket, A pair of spaced apart grooves 14 are cut in base 6 and in which non-metallic strips 15 are edgewise fitted and supported in an upstanding position to form a channeled track enclosed by the Wall 7. The track extends in a tortuous path from an entrance 16 in one side of the wall to a closed end 17 at the center of the well in a position in the path of lowering movement of the bucket.

A plurality of cups or cylindrical objects 18 are adapted for sliding along the track 15 by placing the same in the entrance 16 one behind the other until the innermost or front object reaches the closed end 17 so that the bucket will drop into the object when the bucket is lowered.

States Patent 0 Patented May 1, 1956 The bottom 19 of the object is constructed of a suitable metal capable of being attracted to the magnet.

A leaf spring stop 24) is attached to base 6 at the entrance 16 to the track to hold the objects 18 therein and the objects carry an inscription 21 of a religious or educational nature.

In the operation of the device, the track is loaded with the cylindrical objects 18 bearing the inscriptions and the bucket 12 is lowered in the well to drop into the foremost cylinder whereupon the magnet 13 in the bottom of the bucket will attract and pick up the cylinder as the bucket is raised. The inscription on the cylinder may then be read and the cylinder returned to the well by way of the entrance 16 and which thus moves the remaining cylinders forward to position another cylinder in the path of the bucket.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the ap pended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An educational and amusement device comprising an imitation well including a bucket adapted for lowering into and raising out of the well, a stationary magnet carried by the bucket, a track in the well leading from an entrance therein to a position underlying the bucket, and magnetically attracted objects mounted for movement along the track into the path of lowering movement of the bucket for lifting an attracted object from the well.

2. An educational and amusement device comprising an imitation well including a base, a pair of parallel grooves in the base, a track composed of strips of material fitted edgewise in the grooves to support the strips upright, said track leading from an entrance in a side of the Well and terminating substantially at the center or" the well, a plurality of magnetically attracted objects adapted for movement along the track, a bucket adapted for lowering into the well, and a stationary magnet carried by the bucket for engaging and lifting one of the objects therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said entrance in the side of the well includes a resilient stop opposing outward movement of the objects at said entrance.

4. A chance device comprising a hollow chamber having an opening in its top and an opening in one side, said last named opening being adapted to receive magnetically attracted objects for movement of the objects inwardly of the chamber for positioning one of the objects under the first named opening, hoisting means on top of the chamber, and a stationary magnet attached to the hoisting means for raising and lowering into the first named opening to engage and lift the objects singly from the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,431 Pike -July 7, 1891 464,391 Samuels Dec. 1, 1891 1,509,873 Ordway Sept. 30, 1924 2,107,672 Lang Feb. 8, 1938 2,408,141 Heil Sept. 24, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Toy Making, by Polkinghorne, published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., London, 1921, pages 46, 47, 166, .177. 

